Sign Me Up Scotty

Eskişehir: The land of strange signs….?

Our night on the town consists of walking, and walking, and walking. While the Saturday nights of most Eskişeherians (yes I made that up) consist of hitting “bar street,” we walk and see the strangest things. (Yes there truly is a “bar street” consisting of bars. What can you expect in a college town. While we have yet to visit this main attraction, we certainly walked by during the opening hours of the charades. But, not to worry, we will stay safe, tucked in our beds with dreams of Turkish delight and verb conjugations in our heads for the rest of the year.)

Anyhow, signs vary from culture to culture, in the West a thumbs up is a good sign, but in many Eastern countries, well, make sure to keep that thumb down! Others are universal, such as green = go or red = warning! stop! Well, tell me folks about this sign….it’s not quite so universal…

Only men can cross? Maybe…Only gentlemen can cross? Could be, but nearly all males would be held back…secret agents (then I could certainly slink across)…the pondering continues…

Or this symbol outside of a restaurant. A coffee restaurant, if I remember correctly. It’s a sight you would expect in Iowa, not Turkey.

Hah! Yes, your eyes aren’t fooling you, it is indeed a cow relaxing in a cup of coffee. Too good to pass by without a picture!! Bahahaha!

So, when out and about in another country, or even in your own, take a look at the locals to figure out the gist of life. What do they do? How do they do it? What do they value, um cows and coffee perhaps? Green almost always means come, and a friendly smile will always be inviting, kind, or endearing. J That’s what I’m relying on, certainly not my Turkish!!